My impression is that Turks have been gaining a significant presence in the local tourist mix. This is puzzling because their currency has been falling, the economic growth slowing significantly, and the stock market stagnating over the last few years. Yet, Turkey recently opened a consulate in Phuket, Turkish restaurants have appeared in Pattaya everywhere, their citizens are now often in the local news (for mainly being drugged and robbed) and the beach road and walking street at night are full of them successfully picking up the best of local talent and Russian stunners (a bit envious, I must admit). I may add to this that Turks now also dominate among foreign customers in adult nightlife scene in many former Soviet republics like Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, etc. A falling total outbound tourism from that country adds to the puzzle.
While a lot has been commented on the fall in tourism from Russia where the currency took a nosedive last year, I've noticed a few countries with economic troubles which generate significant growth in their tourists in Thailand. Spain is another such example. First a real estate collapse after the GFC, then a banking crisis in 2012, with a very high unemployment to follow. And yet the growth in Spanish tourist numbers in Thailand has been higher than from many more prosperous and stable European countries. We all know about sanctions and the dire economic situation in Iran but I read more and more often stories about Iranian tourists here in Pattaya and I have recently started bumping into some of them even in my condo. Greece is another case in point. A few years back never heard about Greek tourists here, but now they are occasionally in the news and even have joined these forums. This is despite the country being practically bankrupt.
I find this puzzling and would like to know what other esteemed members of the TV community think about my observations.

If lots of people respect you and you're known around town as a wise and intelligent person whose opinion matters, then you're esteemed.

Turkish restaurants 'everywhere' ? Man what I wouldnt give for one of their coffees right now, and that bread is to die for. As far as nightlife is concerned, Pattaya needs to change or see bar after bar - in some cases, entire complexes - closed and derelict. Many Westerners have no issue being seen in well-lit open bars drinking with working girls : the assumption that the rest of the world is equally happy to do the same is deeply flawed IMO, particularly at the prices currently being charged in many of the bars here. Landlords got greedy, the cops got greedier and the list goes on - they wont realise what they've done until it's too late.

Greeks joining TV ? I know precisely one, although I admit that the frequency of his posting may have led you to believe that there is more than one.

"Greece is another case in point. A few years back never heard about Greek tourists here, but now they are occasionally in the news and even have joined these forums. This is despite the country being practically bankrupt."

I would have liked to tell you what you never heard in your life but I don't want to get suspended.

You better stick to your miserable life and leave the Greeks and Turks out of it.

Edited April 4, 201511 yr by Costas2008

Cmon Costas - we're being wound up by someone with an axe to grind, but I still want that Turkish coffee. Souvlaki and baklava ? Not so much

Turks over here ? - sounds like a delight.......

A nice Pide and some imamrk bayildi washed down with some real turkish coffee.

If lots of people respect you and you're known around town as a wise and intelligent person whose opinion matters, then you're esteemed.

I'm glad you appreciated my attempt at mild irony . I wonder why some get apparently so aggressive in response to posts where general,subjective, and non-offensive observations are made about certain nationalities. I was hoping though more for some economic insights that might explain the contradictions I described.

The Turks are generally very friendly, I was in Tucky many many years back and liked it.

I miss a proper Greek restaurant here in Patts.

I believe Greece and Tucky are not the best friends in the World, eh Costas?

Everything in Turkey (except most medicines) is very expensive, even locally produced foodstuffs.

I'm sure that the Turkish will think it's very cheap in Thailand.

Not to forget the ready availability of attractive female company, something not so easily found in Turkey.

Seems like Turks don't need a work permit, not researched it but they openly set up ice cream, kebab places all around Pattaya

haven't been to TUCKY for years still in the same place ??

I would love to find a place that sells traditional greek gyro wity meat, tomato, potato, garlic etc. When I lived in Athens I could buy them in the streets for 2 euro. I hope Costas will start a restaurant soon.

Edited April 5, 201511 yr by balo

I would love to find a place that sells traditional greek gyro wity meat, tomato, potato, garlic etc. When I lived in Athens I could buy them in the streets for 2 euro. I hope Costas will start a restaurant soon.

You might end up with meat from strange animals in the gyro if he did.

A country of 80m will have plenty of people who have the wealth to travel well.

And who said that Thailand/TAT couldn't reinvent itself via new markets, US, UK EU previously, then Greece, Turkey and perhaps Syria next!

"Islam is the largest religion of Turkey with 99.8% of the population being registered as Muslim, while other sources give a little lower estimate of 96.4%. Most Muslims in Turkey are Sunnis forming about 72%, and Alevis belonging to Shia denomination form about 25% of the Muslim population."

Right, so it's different to other secular states like Malaysia and Indonesia where infidels like you and I can pretty much go where we like as long as we dont offend Muslim sensibilities ? Interestingly, you neglected to quote the Wikipedia paragraph above that one:

Turkey is a secular state with no official state religion; the Turkish Constitution provides for freedom of religion and conscience.^[237][238] The role of religion has been a controversial debate over the years since the formation of Islamist parties.^[239] For many decades, the wearing of the hijab was banned in schools and government buildings because it was viewed as a symbol of political Islam. However, the ban was lifted from universities in 2011, from government buildings in 2013,^[240] and from schools in 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey#Religion

Yeah great.......after the Chinese, Indians, Ozzies, Russians and Birmese, let's target the Turks now.

"Islam is the largest religion of Turkey with 99.8% of the population being registered as Muslim, while other sources give a little lower estimate of 96.4%. Most Muslims in Turkey are Sunnis forming about 72%, and Alevis belonging to Shia denomination form about 25% of the Muslim population."

Right, so it's different to other secular states like Malaysia and Indonesia where infidels like you and I can pretty much go where we like as long as we dont offend Muslim sensibilities ? Interestingly, you neglected to quote the Wikipedia paragraph above that one:

Turkey is a secular state with no official state religion; the Turkish Constitution provides for freedom of religion and conscience.^[237][238] The role of religion has been a controversial debate over the years since the formation of Islamist parties.^[239] For many decades, the wearing of the hijab was banned in schools and government buildings because it was viewed as a symbol of political Islam. However, the ban was lifted from universities in 2011, from government buildings in 2013,^[240] and from schools in 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey#Religion

Too much Chamberlain, not enough Churchill.

Churchill-Turkey? Unfortunate combination, ever hear of Gallipoli?

To this day, the Turks still respect the men that fought at Gallipolli - I wonder how many battlefields in Afghanistan or Iraq will be treated in the same fashion a hundred or so years from now ? The less said about Churchill in the Middle East, the better, even if he was instrumental in putting enough planes in the air over the channel in WWII to send Goering back to Berlin with his tail between his legs. The Turks may chosen the wrong side, but I just dont see the country in the same light as the Arab nations to their north and east.

Stay on topic please.